Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-12-16
CHIEF GERONIMO.
His Mode OF Life nc Fort Pickens-
Handsome Natchsz

Ills Mode OF Life NJ Fort Pfckens-
Handsome hatcher
A Pensacola, Fla, letter to The PHI.
adelphia Times says: At the door Of
the first room were two Indian women
Ieated on the floor playing cards Our
rivili2at on has taught them this. They
ceased their game as we came up and
'milcd at the party. The soldier with
MS could not interpret. so our converse.
ION was limited to a few signs.
Next we met woman with baby
'winging on her back. She stopped to
let us exam ne the little fellow. They
have most remarkable instrument
Of torture" az wc dubbed Ii, for carry
Ing the 'papooses" until they can
walk. 1t Is of wood. shaped something
like coffin. with the sides very much
lower, though. In that the child is
placed and strapped from It's neck down
to its heels. its hands straight down by
Its sides, so that the little one can move
It's head only. This arrangement has a
band OF leather VIII ch the mother
passes around her forehead. When
busy at anything she stands it up
against the wall or post! OF all the
babies we saw there we did not hear
one vhimper. The women are very
friendly. and seemed pleased at tho at
tention paid them and their children by
visitors. laughing great deal and
showing invariably fine rows OF teeth.
We saw great quantities Of beadvork.
baskets, etc. which they are busy pre-
pairing to sell winter tourists. but we
did not purchase. as Indian work is so
much better done by Amer cans now.
We soon reached Geronmo's quar-
lers. He sat on chair near his door.
and one OF his squaws was on the
ground near him. while baby just
walking played about his feet w thin
the room on the bed were seated little
boy and girl jabbering away for all
they were worth. who quito scorned all
our efforts TO attract them TO MS. Ger
onimo WAS more suave than any Indian
man | have ever seen. He smiled and
shook hands, and his manner was al
most afable. ! was much amused to
see the murderous old fellow play with
his child. One OF his squsws died last
week, but he didn't mourn very long.
We had been told that hatcher was
more naughty than all the others. but
think We caught him on hi. red-letter
day. be was so polite He is the finest
looking OF any of the chiefs, and his
face is more honest Geronimo has
blander smile. but would never inspire
confidence, Nstchsz' hands aud fee,
are small. He stoodup for us to look
at him. He is long and 1.-the Of limb,
and looks as if his strength were quick
and nervous rather than of the endur-
ing kind. His hatred of Geronimo does
not seem to abate. In fact, the old
diplomatic, as he is called here, is i'm
bad odor with the other CHI ELS. They
hold him accountable for their sur
render. and have never forg ven him.
They are very chary about assocat ne
with him.
A great ply came over me az we
turned to go. | thought of their free
life in the great far-reachng country
uf the west. their hatred of the pale
faces OF the east. Here they were. shut
within four narrow walls, subject 10
their despised conquerors and their
ed they did not rise in their wrath and
slaughter the handful of men who have
them in charge. But life seems sweet
to all human beings. and We soon learn
prudence if the penalty of recklessness
De death.
The storms of few weeks since ter.
fled them. The big water" insp res
them w tn an awe and dread that moth
Ing else does. and it was an infinite re.
lief to them when the heavens cleared
and the waters were again calm. The
booming of the surf. which sounded
like the play of artillery far in the city,
filed them with unspeakable terror.
What will become of them? viii their
lives be spent in prison? 1t is knotty
question and one which the government
has not yet solved. They are not quite
the heroes of Cooper. and their love OF
dirt and treachery are repuls've; but
they are men, and men of so different
birth and rearing we cannot force them
quite yet into our narrower grooves.
A Great Hay-Mow.